Sources Guides list

Sources Guide: 'I came here for the waters': Sources on health tourism

Further information about the materials mentioned below can be found on the Archives and Manuscripts Online Catalogue

In some cases the full detailed catalogues of archive collections are not yet in this online database: hard copy versions are available in the Rare Materials Room of the Library and on request to archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk

Piermatteo Corvini Letter to Guiustino Manosio about his illness and treatment with medicinal waters at Orvieto, in Italian, 1557 MS 5426/8

General Sea-Bathing Infirmary, Margate Letters from John Anderson, physician to the Infirmary, to its secretary, 1791-8 MS 6118

William Hasledine Pepys chemical analysis of Bath spring water, 1804 MS 7400/73

Dr Delpit, Barèges, France Correspondence and papers of medical inspector of mineral waters, Barèges, in French, 1804-28 MS 5633

A. Sanderson Letter announcing departure to Madeira and possibly West Indies for health reasons, 1806 MS 7780/4

Buxton Notebook of visitor seeking a cure for rheumatism, 1817 MS 6108

Karl Theodor Menke, balneologist Letter, in German, 1834 MS 7324/30

Charles Petit, balneologist Letter, in French, 1843 MS 7390/152

Jean François Payen, medical writer and specialist in mineral waters Letters, 1840-1869, and prescription, 1845 in French MS 7390/25-36

Vincenz Priessnitz, founder of hydropathic establishment at Gräfenberg, Austria Letter, in German, 1850 MS 7439/3

Charles Sealsfield (né Karl Anton Postl) Letter to Dr. Brunner of the Albisbrunnen hydrotherapy establishment at Albishausen, Switzerland, describing his rheumatic symptoms, in German, 1852 MS 7607/1

Joseph Pierre Eléonord Pétrequin Note on the mineral waters of Vichy, in French, 1854 MS 7390/168

Dr Metze, of Kopenhagen Letter concerning a Countess Moltke and her sister, travelling to Germany to consult an ophthalmologist (Dr. Graefe) and to take the waters, in German, 1861 MS 7324/33

Robert Lee Diary of a tour in Switzerland and of residence at Cannes as personal physician to Lord Harrington, 1865-6 MS 3222

Dr Charles Sewell Journals of holiday tours in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, trips to USA and Norwegian fjords, contain much detail on spas, 1868-92 MSS 4498-4515

Adam Raciborski Letter advocating a period at the Schlagenbad spa, in French, 1869 MS 7469/11

Thomas Lyttleton Powys, 4th Baron Lilford Letter written when taking the waters at Bad Neuenahr, Germany, 1883 MS 7825/19

Emil Preller, director of balneological establishment, Ilmenau Postcard, with illustration of the Villa Preller, in German, 1891 MS 7439/2

John Addington Symonds Letter about proposed new Alpine air cure sanatorium at Wiesen, down the valley from Davos, 1893 MS 7023/16

Frederick Parkes Weber He (and his father) were particularly interested in hydrotherapy and balneology, and jointly published a much reissued book on spas and health resorts in Europe. His papers include much on treatment at spas or by change of climate, sea-voyages, etc, and the case notes from his private practice include advice as to the best places to go to recruit health, 1890s-1950s PP/FPW

Richard Metcalfe, hydrotherapist Letter to Professor Wilhelm Winternitz asking for information on the history of hydropathy in Austria and Germany, for a book on the rise of hydropathy in Europe, 1905 MS 7312/57

British Medical Association Files of the 'Groups' of this body include files of the Spa Practitioners Group of the Association, 1930s-50s; also material on hydrotherapy and other establishments offering treatments by non-medically qualified practitioners, 1900s-50s SA/BMA

Henry Hillyard: Papers re Malvern Water Pollution Cases Case transcripts, press cuttings, memoranda, reports, photographs and correspondence regarding responsibility for polluted water at a hydropathic establishment, 1906-1910 GC/63

There are in addition diaries and letters describing journeys undertaken purely for pleasure as well as for business, professional and medical purposes.

The Library's holdings of printed and pictorial materials also contain substantial amounts on this subject.